Two PAWS Dogs Ready For Adoption

Two special dogs, both graduates of our Pairing Achievement With Success (PAWS) program at our Ron Jackson facility in Brownwood, have received excellent care, training and attention from our youth trainers and are now ready for adoption.

Oreo, a very calm, laid-back Bassett Hound mix who loves attention and meeting new people, weighs about 35 lbs. She is a younger dog between one and three years old. She is a cuddler and loves children. Oreo is a quick learner, has passed all of the elements of the Canine Good Citizen test and loves to investigate her surroundings while on walks. Her trainer says “she is a happy dog who brings a good spirit with her.”

Luna is a year-old Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog (the State Dog of Louisiana) who weighs approximately 68 lbs. She is very smart but sometimes has a mind of her own. She really needs clear instructions and would do best with someone who knows about dogs and especially her kind of hound dog breed. She is very playful and friendly with people but very well-behaved. Other dogs are a big distraction. She can be left alone but when you leave the room, but needs something to entertain her until you return. She recently passed all the elements of the Canine Good Citizen test and is ready for her fur-ever home!

If you are interested in providing a forever home for one of these beautiful animals, please contact Holli Fenton, Dorm Supervisor at 325-641-4260 or Freda Day, Corinne T. Smith Animal Center Director, at 325-646-0617.

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

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Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s

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